Former NBA player and new import Al Harrington helped the Sydney Kings break their losing streak, despite coming perilously close to missing out on making his NBL debut against Townsville on Friday.
Forward Harrington, who arrived on Thursday as a short term replacement for his injured former Atlanta Hawks teammate Josh Childress, scored 12 points in just over 19 minutes before fouling out near the end.
Sydney's 87-78 home win over the Crocs ended a four-match losing run and lifted them off the bottom and put Townsville in last spot.
Harrington's clearance to play for Sydney only came in 20 minutes before the Kings had to submit their team and just 40 minutes before the start,
"I had already written on the board that he wasn't playing, I told him he wasn't playing," Kings' coach Damian Cotter said.
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"Then my assistant coach runs in five minutes before I go in and says `Al, you're playing.'"
Coming off the bench with just under four minutes of the first quarter to go with Sydney leading 18-8, Harrington missed his first three field goal attempts, but notched three points from the free throw line by quarter time.
He made three straight field goals in the second quarter and finished with four from ten for the match with three rebounds two assists and a block
"I haven't had a lot of time with him, but I was impressed with his persona and just trying to find a way to fit in and his passion to compete," Cotter said of Harrington.
All five of Sydney's starters scored in double digits, while import guard Jordair Jett with 22 points was Townsville's only scoring threat.
